Through appropriate coaching selected employees from six Community Based Organizations - CBOs in Mafraq governorate were supported to draw up annual plans including the associations’ vision, mission and goals, and to develop projects and initiatives (in 2017 especially on the topic of 'school-drop outs'), so that the CBO can take a their role in providing local women with crucial skills, in promoting women’s participation in the community life and in contributing to local problem solving (see previous article).

The goal of the capacity building is to enhance the CBOs role as community mobilizers, promoters of women’s role and facilitators of inter-group relations (see previous article). How to mobilize local people and resources for addressing problems - taking into account that not always international donor money is needed for solving such issues, but oftentimes just joining forces locally can bring great results for community well-being - is the approach to be followed.

Under the independently developed annual project with the title "My Education is My Future" the Tawasol Society for Familiy & Childhood Development conducted its first activity on "Awareness raising and educational course for parents about school drop-outs". Target groups have been parents of dropped-out-of-school students aged 6 - 12 years of Al Dal’aa Neighbourhood School, Mughair Sarhan Elementary School and Al Arqoub Neighbourhood School.

After the welcoming of participants and the brief introduction about objectives of the project a lecture and presentation followed about the phenomenon of school drop-outs and reasons. During the ensuing discussion parents and a school principal have lively discussed about possible solutions. As part of the annual plan, further activities are planned including students.